What to do with old bikes (Selling)

By fastredrider44, Posted April 16, 2013

Hey Fellas, gotta question for some advice. I've got a few old bikes I've been trying to sell on craigslist and just haven't had any luck. Everybody is trying to beat me down on price with a sledge hammer, or trying to trade me junk that no one else wants. Latest bike I'm selling is a 2000 CR250. It could use a little love, but Its clean, it's tight, its ready to ride with a lot of new parts and I haven't got a single serious offer on it yet. What's it worth and how do you all normally go about selling your bikes? I don't have it posted on here because I haven't really noticed that many members close to me. (Western KY)

By CamP, Posted April 16, 2013

Around here, bone stock bikes sell the quickest. I put up a very nice, bone stock and low hour '99 RM125 on Craigslist Friday, and it sold yesterday. I even got $200 more than KBB retail.

Bikes with black plastic and aftermarket graphics, etc. tend to linger for a long time

By souliog, Posted April 16, 2013

Around here, bone stock bikes sell the quickest. I put up a very nice, bone stock and low hour '99 RM125 on Craigslist Friday, and it sold yesterday. I even got $200 more than KBB retail.

Bikes with black plastic and aftermarket graphics, etc. tend to linger for a long time

Couldn't agree more....black plastics only appeal to small percentage

By tarheel87, Posted April 17, 2013

rockymountain has the polisport plastic set for $95. Throw those on there, and add the cost into the bike price. I imagine it would sell quicker.

By fastredrider44, Posted April 17, 2013

These are the plastics it came with. They're ready to be replaced, but I didn't want to put another dollar into this one since there's a good chance I will loose money on it anyhow. As much as I hate parting out a perfectly good bike, after looking at prices, I may go that route. There are a few parts I may keep for a later project though. Also, for the record, I have a very clean, very low hour CR sitting in my stable with factory tires still on it. I'm going to have to keep that one, but long story short, I had to buy the factory plastics out of the guys kung fu grip when I traded him a 125 for it. These bikes just look right with factory graphics and plastic on them.

By Curt026, Posted April 17, 2013

Your bike looks clean but I do have to agree that those plastics do make it look like a younger person owned it. What all have you done to it? Here in western pa I'd say that it's not uncommon for that bike to be listed for around 1800-2000 and I imagine that they probably actually sell for around 1700 or around that. Riding season has just started here and it seems like the same bikes have been on Craigslist for awhile now. I don't know what your asking for it but I'd say if your close to the numbers I listed that you will sell it eventually. There is a buyer out there for everything. Within the next few weeks is when you start seeing the bikes disappear fairly quickly.

By fastredrider44, Posted April 17, 2013

Riding season is pretty much here in KY. I'm asking 1500, would take 1300 firm. I'll keep it for any less, but so far I have not had an offer for over 1000. New chain and sprockets, new rear spokes, new swinger bearings, new brakes, new clutches, new rings etc. This bike is tight. I've been around bikes my whole life, so I know junk when I see it. I realize the plastic hurts it, but I've watched a lot of other bikes that didn't seem to move. Just wondering what yall did to sell one or if anyone has had any luck parting one out. Seems like ebay has really slowed down in the last few years.

By shrubitup, Posted April 17, 2013

Riding season is pretty much here in KY. I'm asking 1500, would take 1300 firm. I'll keep it for any less, but so far I have not had an offer for over 1000. New chain and sprockets, new rear spokes, new swinger bearings, new brakes, new clutches, new rings etc. This bike is tight. I've been around bikes my whole life, so I know junk when I see it. I realize the plastic hurts it, but I've watched a lot of other bikes that didn't seem to move. Just wondering what yall did to sell one or if anyone has had any luck parting one out. Seems like ebay has really slowed down in the last few years.

Might be able to get white number plate backgrounds for all three and then some red-based OEM looking graphics for the radiators for less than $50 maybe. I'd pay 1300$ for that bike if it were local and you had receipts.

By zokalr13, Posted April 18, 2013

hi- I flip bikes as a hobby so maybe I can help..I once sold a perfectly good bike [cr250] quite quickly by stripping it down so all parts can fit in a box..then advertise "bike in a box" blah blah but you sell it a lil lower than a complete bike .fill it up full of spare parts too...the psychological effect is that they are getting a deal and some might be drawn to trying to "rescue" it ..give it a try- it might work..

Edited April 18, 2013 by zokalr13

By fastredrider44, Posted April 18, 2013

Hmmm. That's a pretty good theory, although I would be afraid of taking too big of a hit on it. I may give that a try with some of the other projects laying around though. Here's the bike that basically replaced it. I've done a little bit to it, but nothing major.

By tarheel87, Posted April 18, 2013

Hmmm. That's a pretty good theory, although I would be afraid of taking too big of a hit on it. I may give that a try with some of the other projects laying around though. Here's the bike that basically replaced it. I've done a little bit to it, but nothing major.

That bike looks super clean. That's exactly what I'm trying to get my bike back to.

By fastredrider44, Posted April 18, 2013

That bike looks super clean. That's exactly what I'm trying to get my bike back to.

Thanks. I just got done looking through your thread. I feel your pain. I did a total frame up resto on a 97 about a year ago. Ended up having well over 2k in the build doing it right, only to realize I wasn't happy with the bike.

By tarheel87, Posted April 19, 2013

Thanks. I just got done looking through your thread. I feel your pain. I did a total frame up resto on a 97 about a year ago. Ended up having well over 2k in the build doing it right, only to realize I wasn't happy with the bike.

Well i'll be well over 2k. Hope to hell I'm happy with it!

By Kirkes, Posted April 19, 2013

You will, the gen 2's are much better than the,first year, gen 1 ('97).

Edited April 20, 2013 by Kirkes

By ickfinger, Posted April 20, 2013

CL is full of theives, scammers, and douchebags. CL offers 0 protection for buyer & seller. Free ads promote douchebagism on so many levels its scary. Try ebay and you'll do better, I promise.

Hey guys, so cant find much online about cr 250r enduro conversions (nothing recent) so im wondering if it is an option or not. I currently have a crf 250x 2009 and a XR 650r. If i want a 2 stroke enduro but want to stick with the honda line up, is a 2007 or 2005 honda cr 250r a good option. and if so what would need to be done to it to get it up to spec for trail and enduro riding. Thanks very much

Note: This specifically applies to the '92 - '01 CR250 engine, but it should be adaptable to any 2-stroke. The basic idea is to pull the carb and exhaust, plug one and pressurize the engine through the other to look for leaks.
It's very important to pressure test a 2-stroke after it's assembled. The reason is that a 2-stroke gets it's lube through the pre-mix. An air leak means your engine can run lean. Lean means too little fuel. Too little fuel means too little lube. Too little lube means death to your engine. So here we go.
First, you need to pull the seat, tank, shock, carb and pipe. Everything you need (other than a tire pump) is shown below.

The assembly below is basically a 1-3/4" PVC plug (same OD as the intake pipe ID) that is transitioned down to a 0-15 psi gauge, a shut-off valve and a Schrader valve (to connect a tire pump). The 1-3/4" PVC plug is a tight fit in the intake pipe, but it'll fit with enough persuasion. I used yellow heavy duty pipe tape (made for gas systems) to put everything together. I don't have all the technical names for everything, but if you take the pictures to a hardware store, they should be able to help you piece it together.

The item below is an adjustable rubber freeze plug. They are available at automotive parts stores in various sizes, but the closest one I could make work was a 1-3/4" version. You tighten the nut which squeezes two metal plates together which squeezes and expands the rubber piece between the plates. You have to tighten it a lot, but it makes a good seal in the exhaust port.

Before you install everything, make sure that the piston is at BDC (so that all the ports are open), the spark plug is installed and all other components are properly tightened. Below, you can see the gauge/valve assembly installed in the intake pipe. Make sure to tighten your intake pipe hose clamp tightly as the pressure will tend to push the assembly out.

Below, you can see the freeze plug installed in the exhaust port.

Once you have everything installed as shown, use a tire pump to pressurize the engine to 6 - 8 psi, then close the valve and watch the gauge for any pressure drop over a 5 - 10 minute period. A well sealed engine will hold pressure with no observable pressure drop for 10 minutes easily.
One common "leak" in a healthy '92 - '01 CR250 engine (and probably other types) is through the powervalve linkage. It probably doesn't affect performance, but it'll sure throw your leak measurements off. To avoid leaks, make sure the powervalve linkage is correctly lubed (per the Service Manual) with grease and Moly 60 Paste during assembly.
If your engine holds pressure with no observable drop for 10 minutes, you're good to go. If the pressure drops 2 - 3 psi or more over 10 minutes, spray soapy water all around the pressure test parts first to check for leaks there. If you find none on the test setup, start spraying the soapy water around the base gasket, head gasket, center gasket etc. Any pressure drop of less than 2 psi over 10 minutes is your call, but I'd definitely fix it.
I've had really good results by using Permatex Copper Gasket Sealant on the base gasket, PV cover gasket and reed cage gasket. I don't use anything on the head gasket.

What value would you say a 1986 cr250 with a freshly plated cylinder and new top end, newer tires, newer chain & sprockets, in overall very good condition?
I picked up the bike (cheap) a month or so ago in need of cylinder replating & top end. Apparently the headgasket blew internally scouring the cylinder. The crank feels good and the bike is very clean/good condition.
I havent put the bike together yet (too busy to ship cylinder and order parts), but figure I would have a total of $600 (including bike cost) to get it into good running cond.
A friend wants to buy it as-is for his 15 yr old 200# kid. What value wouldyou put on it in As-is condition vs with a fresh engine?